Katherine Grey: Life Story

Published11th August 2015

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Chapter
9
: Politics

Wider European politics now came into play. With Mary’s
death, England’s alignment with Hapsburg Spain and Empire was weakened, but the
French (who previously had intrigued to overthrow Mary in the Wyatt Rebellion with
the ostensible goal of putting Elizabeth on the throne) were now promoting the
claims of
Mary, Queen of Scots. The Hapsburg interest would be best served by a
marriage between Elizabeth, and her former brother-in-law, Philip II, or with
one of his Imperial cousins. If that could not be achieved, then the Hapsburgs
needed a viable alternative to Mary, Queen of Scots to support. Katherine Grey
might be the very one!

Feria courted Katherine’s support. He suggested that a
Spanish or Imperial husband might suit her, and she agreed that she would not
marry without his agreement, nor change her religion – Katherine had conformed
to the reintroduced Catholic practices of Mary’s reign. There were rumours that
Feria even went so far as to arrange an abduction of Katherine with a view to
smuggling her to Spain. From the extant records, it is impossible to tell
whether Katherine was privy to this plan. It was abandoned when Henri II of
France died, the Spanish believing that his heir, the young Francois II, was
much less likely to consider invasions of England – he was too young and
untried to begin his reign with extravagant military ventures, even in favour
of his young wife, the Queen of Scots.

Katherine’s statement that she would not change her religion
without consulting Feria (if his remarks are to be believed) is unlikely to
have been a genuine declaration of Katherine’s religious views. So far as is
recorded, she complied with the Act of Uniformity, and all of the support for
her position as heir was grounded on the belief that she was a Protestant. Katherine
may have made this comment to leave open the idea of a Spanish match. She
probably warmed to the idea, as during the summer of 1559, Hertford seemed to
have lost interest in her.

He initially excused himself from attending the Queen’s
progress that set out from London on 17
th July 1559. They met again,
however, at Eltham, and were soon deeply in love. It was an enchanted summer
for the young couple – masques, banquets, hunting parties and dancing filled
the days and the fragrant summer evenings at Eltham and Nonsuch. Hertford’s
intentions were strictly honourable, and later in the year, probably in
September or October, he formally requested Lady Frances to sanction his
marriage to her daughter.

Lady Frances and her second husband, Adrian Stokes, were
pleased with the plans, but they were well aware that the Queen might not approve.
Their advice to Hertford was to persuade as many of Elizabeth’s advisors and
Privy Councillors as possible of the benefits of the match. A letter was
drafted for Frances to send to the Queen, once there was sufficient support for
the match, asking the Queen’s consent. Frances also confirmed with Katherine
that she wished the marriage to take place – the fashion for arranging
marriages for young people without consulting them was beginning to fade.

Hertford’s initial feelers met with the advice that he
should not attempt to rush matters. Whilst Katherine was waiting to formalise
the betrothal, her mother, who had been ailing for several years, died. The
funeral, paid for by Elizabeth, in an unusual access of generosity, took place
in Westminster Abbey. Katherine, her eldest surviving child, was chief mourner,
following the coffin. The funeral was conducted according to the rites and
ceremonies laid down in Elizabeth’s Act of Uniformity, which, although
Protestant, was not so radical as the faith that had been espoused by Frances’
husband and her daughter, Jane.